Mental Health

Billy · 15-01-2007, 21:47

What is your opinion on this very important subject?

Quote:

How to address mental health
By Ian Hickie

AFTER decades of financial, political and professional neglect, mental illness is now firmly on the political and social agenda.
The Prime Minister and NSW Premier have both made it clear we can no longer ignore the plight of those with these common and disabling conditions.
However, as graphically detailed in the 2005 "Not for Service" report of the Mental Health Council of Australia, as well as the tragic stories reported in this newspaper, daily failures continue to have dramatic consequences.
The system has broken down largely because of a lack of money, poor co-ordination of different government health, welfare and accommodation services and a lack of willingness by past politicians and bureaucrats to be held accountable.
Unfortunately, the mental illness debate too readily descends into simplistic arguments about hospital versus community-based care.
The development of effective medical treatments for the more severe forms of mental illness in the 1960s led to an immediate and persisting decline in the number of persons who required long-term institutional care. For treatments to be most useful, they need to be started early in the course of illness and continued over a longer period.
The key issue is really access to effective treatments throughout an illness. That typically includes not only the early phases of behaviour change and the very acute, and sometimes self-harming or threatening phases, but also the later rehabilitation and recovery. Unfortunately, we rarely provide these services.
The treatment of mental illness is obviously made difficult by the fear, stigma and sense of personal and family shame that surrounds these conditions. People are often afraid to seek treatment early and may even be actively discouraged by well-meaning friends or family.
Once the illness progresses, however, the person with the illness may deny the condition exists and actively refuse help. In these situations, there is often considerable risk to the person themselves and, sometimes, risk to their immediate family or the wider community.
It is commonly believed that we do not have adequate legal means to respond to these situations.
While legal issues are real, the more common reality is we lack the number of dedicated professionals and proactive services needed to respond. In an under-resourced system, people find it hard to get into treatment, they are prematurely discharged and are inadequately followed up by experienced health professionals.
Too little practical support is provided to families, carers, emergency workers and others.
What we do need to provide are safe environments for care. For most phases of an illness, most of that "safe" care can be at home. But it does also mean immediate access to emergency and hospital-based options when home-based care is not safe.
To get it right, we need to follow a few basic steps.
PUT the money into effective services: The Prime Minister and the NSW Premier have made significant new commitments. Now we all need to ensure the monies get spent on real treatments as well as family support and stable accommodation;
HOLD the government systems accountable: We know if we do not provide ongoing treatments to those with severe illness, death rates from all causes (suicide, accidental death and physical illness) increase.
We need clear reports, much like the road toll. If we are not succeeding, we need to know. If the new systems are working, this will restore community confidence and encourage others to come forward for treatment;
ENSURE the emergency systems respond in a timely and appropriate fashion: If you have a heart attack, you will be seen within minutes in our emergency departments. For too long, people with mental illness have been treated as though their lives were less valuable;
WHENEVER someone is discharged from a psychiatric hospital, legal and professional mechanisms must be in place to ensure care is provided for at least the next 12 months: The most frustrating situation for families, and other emergency agencies, is to face the same acute care issues over and over.
This largely happens when treatment is ceased prematurely or when too little attention has been placed on providing real home-based care;
GOVERNMENTS need to work closely with the community-based agencies and charities: NSW has lagged behind other states in its attention to these partnerships; and
WE NEED to recognise and reward those services that get it right: Where professionals are working closely with people with illness and their families to achieve good results, we need to hear their stories as well.
The supported accommodation services in NSW are headed in the right direction. The long overdue development of a skilled forensic service in this state is welcome.
In Australia, we have evidence that increased treatment of depression by GPs has led to a fall in suicide rates.
The future for mental health services should now be considerably brighter. We will all be better off if we support politicians, families, community agencies and professionals who are tackling these tough issues.
Professor Hickie is University of Sydney Brain

BeautUtes

Samantha · 16-01-2007, 09:05

I think that we definitely need more awareness about Mental Illnesses. There are so many people affected these days, whether its depression or another form. I don’t think its fair to keep it in the shadows as we have in the past, and there needs to be a lot more time, money and effort devoted to helping those who are suffering. Someone I know is affected by depression and things have happened, but not enough. Maybe if we had of known more about it we would have been able to pick up on it beforehand. Mental Illness not only affects the individual, but their family and friends too. The government may say oh we are doing something about it, but I won’t believe it until I see it. They are now brining in a Medicare rebate for trips to psychologists which is a start, as many people don’t get the help they need as it is to expensive. The foundations do as much as they can with their budgets etc but they need help from the Government and from the public. I just ask that if you see those “Beyond Blue” wrist bands etc that you buy one, even if you don’t wear it. They need all the help they can get, to help those who need it.

Chryseida · 16-01-2007, 09:12

It helps if people can change their thinking and attitude - why is it when you talk about mental health its always a bad thing.

The Act Belong Commit campaign is addressed at changing the community's perception of being mentally healthy.

Research has shown that by actively taking part in the community there is decreased chance of depression and other associated problems.

Check out www.actbelongcommit.org.au

16-01-2007, 09:05	#2 (permalink)
Samantha Status: Feral Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Nth QLD Posts: 159 Rep Power: 3	Re: Mental Health I think that we definitely need more awareness about Mental Illnesses. There are so many people affected these days, whether its depression or another form. I don’t think its fair to keep it in the shadows as we have in the past, and there needs to be a lot more time, money and effort devoted to helping those who are suffering. Someone I know is affected by depression and things have happened, but not enough. Maybe if we had of known more about it we would have been able to pick up on it beforehand. Mental Illness not only affects the individual, but their family and friends too. The government may say oh we are doing something about it, but I won’t believe it until I see it. They are now brining in a Medicare rebate for trips to psychologists which is a start, as many people don’t get the help they need as it is to expensive. The foundations do as much as they can with their budgets etc but they need help from the Government and from the public. I just ask that if you see those “Beyond Blue” wrist bands etc that you buy one, even if you don’t wear it. They need all the help they can get, to help those who need it.

16-01-2007, 09:12	#3 (permalink)
Chryseida Status: Gem Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,171 Rep Power: 10	Re: Mental Health It helps if people can change their thinking and attitude - why is it when you talk about mental health its always a bad thing. The Act Belong Commit campaign is addressed at changing the community's perception of being mentally healthy. Research has shown that by actively taking part in the community there is decreased chance of depression and other associated problems. Check out www.actbelongcommit.org.au

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